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NEWS: Sept. 19, 2011 Public Workforce | The Nation Military Retirees Could Face Benefit Cuts Military pensions and health care for active and retired troops now cost about $100 billion a year, and making even incremental reductions to them is typically a doomed political venture. But the intense push in Congress to reduce the debt has made military-retiree benefits vulnerable, military officials and experts say. >> New York Times Chicago Mayor Pushes Workers Toward 'Wellness Plan' Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a "wellness plan" aimed at keeping city employees healthier and charging them an extra $50 per month for insurance if they don't participate. >> Chicago Tribune Denver Officials: Sick-Pay Mandate Would Be Costly Denver officials say the city would be on the hook for $690,500 a year if voters pass a citywide initiative mandating sick pay for all public- and private-sector workers. >> Denver Post Patent Office Plans to Hire 1,500-2,000 Examiners The Patent and Trademark Office is planning to hire between 1,500 and 2,000 new examiners to address a large backlog of patent applications as a result of the patent-system overhaul law. >> Federal News Radio
Massive Police Layoffs Ignite Crime Fears One hundred and eight of the city's 350 police officers turned in their badges and guns in a law-enforcement bloodletting that many predict will turn New Jersey's capital into a cauldron of crime. A total of 150 city employees were expected to be laid off in efforts to close an estimated $8.4 million budget gap. >> The Trentonian Chicago's Top Cop Mulls Closing District Stations Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, under the gun to cut at least $190 million from the police department's $1.3 billion-a-year budget, is exploring the politically volatile idea of closing some of the city's 25 district police stations. >> Chicago Sun-Times Technology | The Nation Can Software Predict the Future? For the IRS, software known as predictive analytics may offer a means of deciding which taxpayers warrant an audit. The U.S. Postal Service's inspector general is using analytics to identify high-risk contracts. And at least one agency is exploring the technology for predicting which of its workers will be retiring soon. >> Federal Times DOE Has Roadmap for Infrastructure Cyber-Security The Department of Energy released a roadmap for securing the nation's energy infrastructure that envisions a system able to withstand a major cyber-attack and continue to operate effectively. >> InformationWeek Feds Aim to Save on Tech by Buying in Bulk Several federal agencies and departments will start pooling their purchases of office printers, copiers and scanners in hopes of collectively saving $600 million in the next four years. >> Washington Post
New Book Portrays Dysfunctional White House Obama-administration officials scrambled to hunt down copies of a book being released this week that paints a portrait of a dysfunctional, acrimonious White House that sometimes stymied President Obama's efforts to rescue the country's economy. >> Washington Post Funding for FAA, Roads Extended into 2012 After an unexpected second round of congressional squabbling over funding for the Federal Aviation Administration and highway programs, President Obama has signed the bill passed by lawmakers to extend both into next year. >> The Hill Human Services | Kansas State Narrows Eligibility for Welfare The state is tightening its requirements for people to qualify for some welfare programs in what officials described as a move to reduce expenses and fraud and encourage people to find work. The changes, which begin taking effect Oct. 1, affect Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, food stamps and child-care help. >> AP/Topeka Capital-Journal Immigration/Homeland Security | The Southwest Military, DHS at Odds over Guard's Border Role For years, National Guard troops have patrolled the southwestern border, helping to catch drug smugglers and illegal immigrants. But a new Government Accountability Office report reveals a rift between the military and Department of Homeland Security officials over border strategy and the Guard's role. >> Arizona Republic
Amid Scandals, Two Coliseum Managers Placed on Leave Two managers of the scandal-ridden Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum--Ronald Lederkramer, the No. 2 administrator for the Coliseum's governing commission, and Leopold Caudillo Jr., the facility's technology manager--have been allowed to take paid medical and administrative leave. >> Los Angeles Times Finance | Jefferson County, Ala. Debt Deal Aims to Avert Bankruptcy County commissioners voted to accept a provisional deal to restructure the county's $3.14 billion sewer-bond debt and avoid what would be the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Creditors agreed to reduce the total debt to approximately $2.05 billion, and the county will raise sewer rates annually. >> Reuters Federal Agencies Told to Speed Up Stimulus Spending The Office of Management and Budget is directing federal agencies to "accelerate" spending on the 15 percent of Recovery Act dollars that remain unused, calling it "imperative that we exhaust all available options to drive the economy forward and create jobs." >> Federal News Radio Massachusetts Now Has Its Highest-Ever Bond Ratings Standard & Poor's raised Massachusetts' credit rating a notch to AA-plus, citing improvements in managing finances. Officials said the S&P score, along with ratings of Aa1 from Moody's and AA-plus from Fitch, give the state its highest credit standing ever. >> AP/Boston Globe >> More news, analysis, resources and events: GovManagement.com >> Follow GovManagement on Twitter >> Share this edition:
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“No, no and no.” Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, asked whether she might run for public office again and adding that "I'm thoroughly enjoying post-government life," which has included co-authoring a book with her husband, Dan Mulhern, who gave up a consulting business to be the primary caregiver to the couple's three children while Granholm was governor and says the political door hasn't closed for him >> Detroit Free Press DATAPOINT Nearly $19 billion Amount in unemployment benefits from 26-week state programs that were paid in error during the three years that ended this past June, representing more than 10 percent of the $180 billion in jobless benefits paid nationwide during the period, according to U.S. Labor Department data >> Wall Street Journal VIEWPOINT Technology | Jerry Mechling To Save More, Spend More With governments at all levels debating how to reduce deficits and close budget gaps, it's politically difficult to argue for more spending on anything. But information technology is different and shouldn't be treated "equally." Technology-enabled productivity improvements hold the promise of saving more than they cost. >> Governing UPCOMING American Enterprise Institute Address by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa: "School Reform in the City of Angels" Today, 1-2:15 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C. Partnership for Public Service Discussion: "The Power of the Cloud: Driving Efficiency in Federal Agencies" Sept. 20, 8:30-10 a.m. ET, Washington, D.C. Brookings Institution Discussion: "Deterrence in Cyberspace: Debating the Right Strategy" Sept. 20, 9-10:30 a.m., Washington, D.C. Center for American Progress Discussion: "Stronger Together: Community Integration of Newcomers" Sept. 20, noon-1:30 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C. GovLoop Online training event: "Top 3 Secrets to Becoming an Amazing Manager" Sept. 20, noon ET Government Executive magazine Webinar: "Government Goes Mobile: Benefits and Challenges" Sept. 20, 2 p.m. ET Government Technology magazine Webinar: "How Simplifying Your Network Can Reduce Cost & Complexity While Maximizing Performance" Sept. 20, 2 p.m. ET Partnership for Public Service Leadership seminar: "Leading from Your Level" Sept. 21-22, Washington, D.C. International Public Management Association for Human Resources Online training: "Developing Competencies for HR Success" Sept. 21-Dec. 6 American Society for Public Administration Southeastern Conference for Public Administration Sept. 21-24, New Orleans >> Full events listings |
